News

Clean-up SA Month

Posted on Sep 08

September 2015 is Clean-up SA Month and the 30th International Coastal Clean-Up Day will once again form the highlight of this year’s Clean-Up &Recycle Week (14-19 September 2015). Thousands of kilograms of a wasteare removed along the world’s shorelines with South Africa recognized as one of the leading participants in this clean-up initiative.

In order to encourage South Africans to recycle and buy products made with recycled material, the packaging industry and recycling industry, have initiatedan annual Recycling Day SA which falls during Clean-up SA Week 14 - 19 September 2015. It’s aim is to increase awareness by educating the community about the social, environmental and economic benefits of recycling.

The problem of marine debris does not necessarily start in the ocean, but is dumped further inland and washed down into the oceans. Statistics from the1999 ICC showed that 59% of debris collected was from land sources. Eachyear there is a vast increase in the number of marine animals injured or entangled in debris found in the oceans. Turtles mistake floating plastic bagsas food and thousands of seals, whales, dolphins, sharks and birds die from entanglement in fishing line and other debris.

The aim of the cleanup is:

to remove debris from all bodies of water;

to collect valuable information about debris;

to heighten public awareness of the causes of litter and debris;

to make a positive change and to promote water pollution prevention efforts worldwide.

Join a cleanup near you or create your own event and Sign Up to Clean Up and add your details to the South African Cleanup Diary here.

Did You Know?

"South African Hope Spots are people-oriented conservation areas in which individuals and communities are asked to make a positive difference to their own coastal and marine environments."